Aerial navigation



Jan. 11 1927. 1,613,834

A. c. JORDANOFF AERIAL NAVIGATION Filed March 19. 1925 'INVEJXTTC! ATTIIIFNEY Patefi'ted Jan. 11, 1927.

Assn]! c. Joammorr, or romno, onio.

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Application filed larch 19, 1925. Serial No; 16,841.

This invention relates to the modification of wind or air resistance.

This invention has utility when incorporated in apparatus for aerial navigation for heavier-than-air machines of the plane or win type Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1- is a side elevafion of an embodiment of the apparatus in a mono-plane;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the mono-plane of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII, Fi 2.

Fuselage or body 1 is shown as having drivers station or cock-{pit 2 for the operator of the plane or air era t. body 1 is internal combus'ion motor 3 having crank shaft 4. From the forward end of this crank shaft 4 is propeller 5 herein shown as rotating in counterclockwise position viewed from the front of he plane. This crank shaft 4, toward the drivers station 2, is provided wiih gear 6 in mesh with bevel pinion 7 on transverse shaft 8 mounted in bearings 9 in fixed position as to the body 1.

Forwardly in the Connected to the body 1, and laterally ex- 4 tending, are wings 10 having, at their outer following edges, ailerons 11. Connections :m 12, 13, 14, serve to fix the lateral extension of these wings or planes 10 as to the body 1. The lanes or wings 10 proper, in their forwar portion provide a concave seat 15.

The shaft 8 at each end is rovided with a flexible coupling 16- for supp emental shaft 17 mounted in bearings 18 carried'by the planes or wings 10 as buovancy promotion mechanism. Fixed on each shaft 17 is cylinder or drum 19 in position to partially nest in the seat, 15. The diameter of this drum and live or leading edge for the wings is such that it is approximately tangential with upper portion 20, and lower port on 21. of the wings orplanes 10. The surface speed of-ihis drum 19 is preferably in excess of the travel rate of air normally as to portions of g the plane. Accordingly, this means that the drum 19 in its rotation is an effective pickup for adjacent regions of the air. The direction of rotaion of this drum 19 is such that as ridin into Jzhe air,'currents as blown rearwardly y the propeller 5, as well as other air currents entered into by the plane in its travel, as striking the drum 19 are thrown upward and along the top 20 of the plane 10. When the leading edge rotates upwardly, the center of pressure is near the forward portion of the wing.- However,

when the leading edge is non-rotary, the center of pressure is not so far forward, but is farther back along the win thus permi'iting gliding. The action of tis rotary leading edge is such that there is an excess of air flow thrown along the side 20 of the plane 10 at a rate to reduce the pressure, with resultant greater buoyancy effect from the lower side 21. In ractice, this control of the current or air resistance, as herein disclosed, is a material facior in not only reducing the head-on resistance and thereby making possible a greater travel rate with less expenditure of energy, but there is a further material stabilizing factordue to this control of the air about the buoyancy promotion mechanism of the apparatus. This means that the lifting power of the plane from a field or position of rest is so under control that an ascent may be accomplished in a much shorter lineal range. Likewise, as this means a buoyancy at a less rate of velocity, it is possible in landing so to control or tilt the fo ward end of the plane upward that its lineal travel rate is so I down with'a much reduced running line requirement.

However, notwithstanding these advantages of safety and short range of control with efficiency of operation, the plane is provided with landing and ascending equipment in the form of brack ts 22 carrying landing or ground wheels 23, roarwardly from which is tail skid 24 in the region of the horizontal axis stabilizer 25 and the vertical axis rudder 26.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Paent is:

An'airplane having a body. wings oppositely extending from said body, cvlindrical leading edges for said wings, and driving means from said body flexibly. connected to said edges for rotating the edges.

In witness whereof Iaflix my signature.

ASSEN C. JORDANOFF. 

